Coronavirus UK Update Live: Breaking News As More Areas Face Level 4

The work of qualified doctors in the UK is being blocked due to delays at the Home Office, at a time when the NHS is under increasing pressure due to the increasing number of coronavirus cases.

Home Secretary Priti Patel has been urged to act after delays arose in the issuance of Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs), which prove a visa holder’s right to work in the UK, preventing them from front-line doctors work in hospitals to fight the pandemic.

Our social affairs correspondent May Bulman reports:

Professor Wendy Barclay, a member of Nervtag, dismissed former Prime Minister Tony Blair’s suggestion that the first dose of the two-stage Pfizer vaccine should be given to as many people as possible initially, rather than current policy that considers that half the people receive the required two doses. of the jab.

Professor Barclay told the Commons Science and Technology Committee: “I think the problem with that (Mr. Blair’s suggestion) is that the vaccine is based on two doses, and the efficacy is based on that basis.

“To change at that point, one would have to see a lot more analysis perhaps coming out of the clinical trial data.”

He agreed with Labor committee member Graham Stringer’s suggestion that any such change in established vaccine policy was “too risky.”

The South Wales Police will participate in a four-week pilot of rapid lateral flow tests that can be self-administered and give results in 20 to 30 minutes.

Serial testing will mean that law enforcement personnel can be asked to identify themselves as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for Covid-19 to be tested at the beginning of their shift for as long as it is expected to self-isolate for.

Those who test negative can continue to work, while those who test positive must isolate and reserve a confirmatory PCR test.

South Wales police said they had been dealing with an average of around 300 absences of police officers and police personnel due to Covid-related illnesses or self-isolation at any one time.

A statement from the Department of Health and Social Care read: “A member of the public with no prior testing experience may use a self-assessment device, in their own home or in another community setting, such as a workplace.

“The self-test device should be simple to use and provide easy to understand results.

“Instructions for use provided with the self-test device should be easy to follow and available in a variety of languages ​​and formats.”

The MHRA has approved a rapid self-test kit that provides results in 30 minutes.

The lateral antigen flow test can be used to identify Covid-19 in people who do not have symptoms.

The Irish government has said that a cabinet member tested positive for Covid-19.

All other ministers will now restrict their movements pending coronavirus tests and results.

“A member of the cabinet tested positive for Covid-19,” said a government statement.

“According to the public health councils, all the ministers are restricting their movements while waiting for a test and the Covid result.”

Authorities are facing calls to close the Derry city airport amid fears British travelers are using it as a “back door” to the European Union.

Travel correspondent Simon Calder has this exclusive report:

Professor Peter Horby has told MPs that the UK report on the new variant of the coronavirus was “a global public good”.

Science and Technology Committee Chairman Greg Clark asked the Chairman of the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threat Advisory Group (Nervtag) if the UK was being ‘penalized’ for detecting the new variant after the countries shut down the trips.

Professor Horby said: “I think it is fair to say that countries that have more extensive and rigorous science and are more transparent risk making important information available to others.

But it is a global public good. It is in our interest that we know about these viruses so we can control the spread. “

Coronavirus testing for truck drivers waiting in Dover to cross the English Channel into France has begun, the Department of Transportation said.

More than 5,000 trucks are being held in three traffic management operations in Kent and tensions between haulers and police officers in the area are mounting.

Truck drivers at the entrance to the eastern docks of the Port of Dover were heard honking their horns in protest earlier today, and some drivers shouted “we want to go home” as they tried to protect themselves from gusts of heavy rain.

“As of 9.30 am this morning, there were 632 heavy vehicles in Operation Pila, 610 heavy vehicles in Operation Brock and 3,800 vehicles in Manston,” said a statement from the DfT.

“As the remaining capacity at Manston is being reserved for test facilities, any new trucks that arrive will be sent to Operation Brock.

“We continue to urge carriers not to travel to Kent until further notice as we work to ease congestion at the ports. The tests have begun. “